Abstract
The effect of various treatments on the haemolytic activity of tentacle extracts and milked venom from Chironex fleckeri (box jellyfish) was examined. The haemolysin was inhibited by EDTA and by a number of divalent cations, of which zinc was the most inhibitory. The haemolytic activity was lowered by treatment with dithiothreitol (DTT), but activity was partially regained on removal of excess reagent. Dimercaptopropanol also inhibited, but monothiol compounds had no effect. Reactivation by 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) after DTT treatment was not possible. Pre-incubation of the Chironex extract with a mixture of gangliosides or with N-acetylneuraminic acid reduced the haemolytic activity when tested subsequently. The inhibition of haemolysis was observed when nanogram quantities of crude ganglioside were employed, suggesting a high affinity of ganglioside for haemolysin. Dermatonecrotic activity was also inhibited by DTT and gangliosides. No phospholipase A or C activity was found in the Chironex extracts.
Published Version
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